Hoosier Deer Hunters Need To Know Change In Law

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is telling deer hunters to leave the rifle at home if they’re heading to public land this fall.

A new state law passed earlier this year bans rifles of any caliber on state or federal land. The DNR is working to inform hunters of the change before Indiana’s deer firearm hunting season begins on November 18.

Not included in the public lands ban are muzzleloaders, shotguns, or handguns. Those firearms can still be used when hunting deer on public land in according with all other deer hunting regulations.

Hunters can still use rifles on private land. In fact, the same law has expanded the types of rifle cartridges that can be used on private property.

The DNR says the 2017-2018 Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide had to be printed before the law was passed, so it now incorrectly shows that rifles are illegal on public land.